Surface mounted container opener



NOV- 2 1.951 F. MENDERMAN 2,575,800

SURFACE MOUNTED CONTAINER OPENER Filed Aug. 18, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 J I IHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllll Hllll lllllllll g IN VEN TOR.

Nov. 27, 1951 F. MENDERMAN 2,576,800

SURFACE MOUNTED CONTAINER OPENER Filed Aug. 18, 194;; 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. fiea fl/mo erman A'ITD RN EYE IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE SURFACE MOUNTED CONTAINER OPENER Fred Menderman, Miami, Fla.

Application August 18, 1948, Serial No. 44,861

My present invention relates to the general class of cutlery, and more specifically to an improved surface mounted container opener for punching or puncturing a pouring opening in the top of the can, and which is also readily adapted for selective use in the removal of caps from beer bottles and other similarly capped containers. The primary object of the invention is the provision of a manually operated bracket-supported device that is simple in construction and operation that includes a resiliently supported depressible frame in which a can or a capped bottle may be engaged, and then by a downward swinging movement of the frame and container, the container may be opened for pouring purposes. By grasping the held container the swinging frame and the container are depressed from horizontal position of the container, to upright opened position of the container, and then the opened container may readily be removed from the frame. After selective use in opening a can, or a capped bottle, the swinging frame and its holder are 3 Claims. (01. 81-33) in section,'showing a capped bottle in position to have its cap removed; and Figure 6 illustrates the action in lifting and removing the cap from the bottle. I

Figure '7 is a transverse vertical sectional view at line of Fig. 4.

In order that the general relation and utility of parts may readily be understood I have illustrated an upright support S to which a housing or open front casing is attached, and the casing, which may be of sheet metal is provided with an upright back wall I, an overhead cowl or hood 2, and side walls 3 and 4.

The housing or hood forms a protective covering for the operating parts of the appliance, which parts are mounted upon a base plate or bracket 5 that is secured by screws 6 passing through the back wall of the hood and into the support S.

For selective use, the appliance is adapted to punch or puncture a hole in the top of a can C resiliently retracted to initial position, and ready for successive operations.

The device of my invention includes a minimum number of parts that may be manufactured with facility and low cost of production, and the parts may be assembled with convenience to assure a durable and reliable appliance for the performance of its required functions. The invention consists in certain novel features of construction. and combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be described and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illus trated one complete example of a physical em bodiment of my invention in which the parts are combined and arranged in accordwith one mode I have devised for the practical application of l the principles of the invention. It will however be understood that changes and alterations are contemplated and may be made in these exemplifying drawings and mechanical structures, within the scope of my claims.

Figure 1 is a front view in elevation of an appliance in which my invention is embodied.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation, showing a can engaged in the holder, and in position for a downward swing; and Figure 3 is a similar view. partly in section, showing the can swung down to punctured or punched position.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view at line 4-4 of Fig. 1 through the hood or housing and show as shown in Figs. 1 and 3; and to remove the metal cap M from a bottle as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6.

Within the hood, a plate I forming a holder is pivotally mounted or hinged at 8 to the bracket 5, and the holder is fashioned with an arcuate transversely arranged flange 9 forming a guard or clamping jaw adapted to receive and retain a portion of the top of the can as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The free end of the holder terminates in an angular flange or guide I0 having an inner gripping lug or jaw II that engages the top of the can at a point diametrically opposite to the arcuate jaw 9, and the holder, as shown is fashioned with an opening l2 in front of which the gripping jaw or lug Ii projects.

A suspending and retracting lever l3, for the holder is pivoted at M on the bracket or plate 5, and the lever is resiliently uplifted or retracted by a spring l5 secured by a screw I So to the bracket. The lever is located above the holder and the free ends of the lever and holder are flexibly united by means of a link IE or lever arm that is hinged at I! to the lever and pivoted at l 8 on the flanged outer end of the holder, so that the lever, holder, and link form a flexible springretracted frame, that may be depressed by hand grasping a can or a bottle fitted to the holder for opening the top of such a container.

For punching or puncturing the top of the can C, the link is fashioned with an integral punching blade l9, which, as shown in Fig. 3 is forced through the opening l2 and thence through the top of the can as the latter is swung from position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3, and as shown in the latter figure of the drawing, the blade forms a pouring opening in the top of the can. After the puncture, the upright can is withdrawn from the holder as the holder is uplifted by the spring Hi When removing the cap M from the bottle B, as in Figs. 5 and 6 the cap M is pressed against the blade I9 as a clamping jaw and the rim of the cap is engaged over the gripping jaw or lug I I, so that, aszthebottle and frame-are d'epre'ssed; the cap is lifted and removed, as indicated in Fig, 6, after which the bottle is withdrawn, and the depressed frame is automatically lifted to initial position.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure'by Letters, Patent is:

1. In a can opener of the punch type including a fixed support, the combination with a depress ible holder. pivoted on said support, an upper level? hinged: to said:- support, above; said. holderand; a, link; uniting the. free ends of; the holder andalever, of'a clamp iawon the outer endof the holder and a second clamp jaw on said holder; below said? first, clamp; jaw and said laws; are

adapted to grip a container and meansv movable with-the link and adapted; toco-act with, and in opposition to said jaws in1 puncturing;- the; top-of the can.

2;, In a can opener of: the punch type includ ing afixedsupport, the combination .witha holder pivoted? to said support, an upperlever. hinged 4 V to said support above said holder, and a link uniting the free ends of the holder and lever, of a clamp jaw on the outer end of the holder adapted to grip the can and a complementary spaced jaw rigid with the holder, a puncturing blade rigid with the link, and spring means carried by said support and engaging said upper lever to retract said lever and link after the depressing thereof to puncture the can.

' 3. Ima manually operated? devicefon removing a bottle-cap, the'combination with a supporting bracket, a holder pivoted to said bracket, a resiliently supported suspending lever hinged on the bracl et,:.and' a link: between the free ends of the holder and the lever, of a blade rigid with the link-and forming a clamp jaw depressible through an; opening; in the, holder for engagement with a bottle-cap. a guide flange on the free end of the holder, and a lug on the flange adapted to engage and lift the cap from the bottle as the bottle and frame" are depressed:

REFERENCES CITED. The following references areof record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED sTATEsBATENTs Hot-hersallr Feb; 10;, 1942: 

